The 5 finest films new to streaming in January 2024

Completely happy new yr, Polygon readers! The vacation season is behind us, and 2024 beckons.

The brand new yr has already given us a banger motion film, and plenty of extra thrilling upcoming films wait across the nook. However the brand new yr additionally means a shuffling of films on streaming companies, with thrilling new titles on Netflix, Hulu, Max, and Prime Video.

We went by the very lengthy lists of recent titles on every platform and picked out the perfect of the perfect so that you can get pleasure from at dwelling this month. There are award-winning movies from administrators with new films out, hidden gems from beloved stars, and rather more.

Let’s dive in and see what this month has in retailer!

Editor’s choose

Shoplifters

The place to observe: HuluGenre: DramaDirector: Hirokazu Kore-edaCast: Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, Mayu Matsuoka

The masterful Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda was chargeable for two of the perfect films of 2023: The found-family crime drama Dealer and the beguiling thriller thriller Monster.

Whereas many attuned to the worldwide movie scene had been followers of Kore-eda’s earlier than his drama Shoplifters, the film’s Palme d’Or win and Oscar nomination for Greatest Overseas Language Movie helped introduce an entire new viewers to his work.

Like a lot of Kore-eda’s films, Shoplifters is worried with the character of what household is, and the lengths we’ve got to go to outlive. It follows a discovered household dwelling in poverty who work odd jobs and shoplift to make ends meet. The household encounters a younger woman and takes her in, rising their circle regardless of the issue that comes with yet another mouth to feed.

Gorgeously shot on 35mm movie, and with deeply felt performances that immerse you fully in its story, Shoplifters is a grasp work from one among our most considerate and empathetic filmmakers. —Pete Volk

New on Netflix

The First Purge

Style: Dystopian motion horrorDirector: Gerard McMurrayCast: Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade

The Purge collection has undergone one of the crucial fascinating artistic trajectories of any horror collection of the previous decade. What started as a dystopian twist on the house invasion subgenre anchored by a powerful efficiency by Ethan Hawke has reworked right into a darkish funhouse mirror of American carnage, an anthology of semi-stand-alone movies that unpack the horror of watching a society participate in an annual celebration of its personal destruction. 2024 is an election yr, so clearly you’d suppose I’d advocate The Purge: Election Yr, proper? Nope, that’s predictable; as a substitute, it is best to watch Gerard McMurray’s 2018 prequel, which drills proper right down to the specific root of the motivations behind the Purge.

Set in 2014, the movie follows Nya (Lex Scott Davis), a younger group activist; Isaiah (Joivan Wade), Nya’s youthful brother; and Dmitri (Y’lan Noel), Nya’s ex-lover and a distinguished drug supplier, who all should survive the primary annual Purge being held of their dwelling of Staten Island. Although carried out beneath the pretense of permitting the inhabitants to vent their pent-up rage, the true motive turns into clear: to encourage worry among the many populace and eradicate the poorest and most marginalized members of society. It’s ironic that in circling again to the Purge’s in-universe origins, The First Purge exemplifies the fullest maturation of the collection’ idea and themes thus far. Equal elements horror, motion, and social commentary, the movie is as sensible as it’s chilling. —Toussaint Egan

New on Hulu

The King of Comedy

Style: Black comedyDirector: Martin ScorseseCast: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard

Did you get pleasure from Joker, Todd Phillips’ controversial hit starring Joaquin Phoenix because the Clown Prince of Crime? Are you trying ahead to Joker: Folie à Deux, the upcoming sequel set to star Phoenix reverse Girl Gaga? Then you definitely ought to observe The King of Comedy, one of many two Martin Scorsese films that instantly impressed Phillips’ movie.

The King of Comedy follows Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), a troubled aspiring slapstick comedian. After crossing paths along with his idol, Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), a profitable speak present host, Rupert turns into obsessive about breaking into present enterprise to the purpose of delusion, culminating in a scheme that simply would possibly catapult him into stardom… that’s, if he doesn’t get himself killed first. A darkly satirical tackle celeb tradition and the perils of fandom, The King of Comedy is one among Scorsese’s most underappreciated masterpieces and extremely really useful for anybody in search of a deeper understanding of the artistic inspirations behind Joker. —TE

New on Max

Ricochet

Style: Darkish crime thrillerDirector: Russell MulcahyCast: Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Ice-T

Highlander and Resident Evil: Extinction director Russell Mulcahy, an unhinged John Lithgow, and a baby-faced Denzel Washington mix for this singular crime thriller that’s one of many strangest and most fascinating films in Denzel’s profession.

Ricochet is a revenge story of a sociopathic killer (Lithgow) who goes to excessive lengths to destroy the lifetime of the now celeb ex-cop (Washington) who busted him years in the past. After I say excessive lengths, I imply it — Ricochet is about as darkish as darkish thrillers get, so be prepared for that.

The dirty affair is boosted by an all-time dangerous man efficiency from Lithgow, who will get to have a jail cafeteria sword battle with the Aryan Brotherhood in full DIY physique armor. However Denzel additionally delivers a sometimes charming efficiency, and Mulcahy’s daring path, with intelligent transitions, a number of cut up diopters, and different touches of aptitude, helps give the film life.

Ricochet is a messy film with darkish themes and subject material. Nevertheless it’s additionally a surprisingly efficient film about white resentment of Black class ascension, an all-too-relevant subject. —PV

New on Prime Video

Return to Seoul

Style: DramaDirector: Davy ChouCast: Ji-Min Park, Oh Kwang-rok, Guka Han

Return to Seoul was one among my favourite films I watched final yr, so I’d be remiss to not advocate it now that it’s on streaming. Written and directed by Davy Chou, the movie follows Freddie (Ji-Min Park), an impulsive 25-year-old girl who arrives in Seoul “unintentionally” after her flight to Tokyo is canceled. Adopted by French mother and father, Freddie makes an attempt to reconnect together with her organic mother and father to realize a greater sense of peace and closure together with her previous.

The movie’s energy is primarily targeting Park’s magnetic and mercurial efficiency, which paints an interesting portrait of a girl at odds together with her personal sense of identification and belonging in a rustic each acquainted but overseas. In the event you’re in search of a deeply affecting, fantastically shot, and captivatingly carried out drama, Return to Seoul is all that and extra. —TE